Monday, May 21, 2012
Gulf News
Dubai: Following Saturdays Lebanon travel warning issued by the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain, travel agents in the UAE are anticipating a drop in tourist demand for Lebanon this summer.
The current situation could impact the summer bookings for Lebanon from the UAE, Manju Manchanda, manager for Akbar Holidays, told Gulf News.
The three countries have advised their citizens to avoid travelling to Lebanon where clashes linked to the conflict in neighbouring Syria left several people dead.
While travel agents havent yet received any cancellations from UAE tourists, they expect them in the coming days. As Hemant Baheti, manager, Kanoo Holidays Division, said: While there is no panic reaction at this moment, if the travel warning continues in the following weeks, we may experience cancellations for the scheduled Lebanon trips.
He added that the travel agency is, however, advising potential Lebanon tourists to make alternative plans to destinations such as Turkey and Kuala Lumpur.
At this point, people are being cautious about travelling to Lebanon. We are getting inquiries about Lebanon travel from UAE nationals as well as expatriates, Baheti told Gulf News.
Echoing Bahetis views is Gassan Aridi, CEO of Alpha Tours. It is the beginning of the summer travel season. If the risk continues, the summer bookings to Lebanon this year will drop, but I hope not, he said.
According to a fourth-quarter 2011 report by Lebanons Bank Audi sal-Audi Saradar Group, the aggregate number of tourists to Lebanon fell 23.7 per cent to 1.6 million in 2011 versus 2.1 million in 2010 owing to political unrest, noting that this decrease was the first since 2006. It added that the majority 35.1 per cent of tourists to Lebanon last year were from Arab countries.
Economic contribution
Meanwhile, Lebanons tourism minister Fadi Aboud recently said the number of tourists to the country at the end of 2012 is expected to exceed three million.
The World Travel and Tourism Council estimates that Lebanons tourism industry will contribute $4.3 billion (Dh15.79 billion) to the countrys economy in 2012, equivalent to around 10 per cent of its gross domestic product.
Arab tourists were the majority spenders in Lebanon last year, as per the report.
By Shweta Jain, Senior Reporter
Gulf News 2012. All rights reserved.
